British TV Shows...

[thatgirl]

^ Who ever she is, she's stunning. Honestly she looks basically white to me but at least they fired that guy for his awkward comment. I don't watch Midsomer Murders but I'm sure that is comforting for its fans.

This made me think of when Idris Elba won a Golden Globe for Luther. All the cameras panned to English actors getting strange reactions. All except for Kenneth Branagh were giving him the stink eye or perhaps didn't even know who he was. It was a little uncomfortable to watch.

lol, That is odd. Imagine if he were actually cast as the next Bond. The rumors about it have been polarizing to say the least.

[MissAnne]

I don't watch Midsomer Murders but I'm sure that is comforting for its fans.

I hope so. From the comments it seems like his firing has upset the fans. Apparently a large part of the fanbase thinks that Midsomer Murders represents a very real part of the English countryside. I wouldn't know. Perhaps there are places with not one minority.

Their POC fans should be happy anyway.

And I would watch the hell out of any Bond movie with Idris in it.

In an article, someone speculated that had Idris not made it big in The Wire, he may not have Luther. The whole thing is interesting.

Where are our Black-English JUBbers ?

[JohnnyAnger]

Yeah I am pretty sure with Idris without The Wire he would not have made it at all in the UK. I saw an article the other day advising most aspiring black, male actors to go to the states to get roles as they will not land them in the UK, which is upsetting. An article here covers it quite well from David Harewood point of view - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/f...o-America.html

On Midsummer Murders, you are dealing with very affluent, rural environments with massively aging populations who tend to be white in reality. This tends to be the case in reality as younger people (of all ethnicities)now don't tend to want to live in the arse end of nowhere in a cold old house that cost them a million of pounds Also it's mainly aimed at an older audience who want to view the country side as some weird traditional area that they can move to once the man has given them enough money.

[MissAnne]

^ Thankyou for that article Johnny. BTW I love your avatar. I don't why. I just do LOL

It was interesting. I googled the Black population in the UK. I came up with 8%. I don't know how true that is but I found that to be kind of low. Its low in the US too. Our 13% isn't much to talk about either. In Soc class we learned that Americans, Blacks included, overestimate the Black population in the US. Most people think that its well into 30%. I kind of chalk that type of thinking up to the Civil Rights Movement and the unrelenting fight to gain a voice. That voice is pretty loud and the Black audience is strong and profitable. However, Black actors here complain about the lack of roles as well.

Sorry thatgirl. I don't mean to derail your thread.

I would like to say that Im really excited for Merlin. I just saw that I missed the season opener on our Syfy channel (We get it late over here). That kind of sucks. There are too may things on TV!!

Plus Ive been trying to get into Fresh Meat. Really trying. I just can't stick it.




I do love her though

[thatgirl]

Sorry thatgirl. I don't mean to derail your thread.

lol, I actually don't mind at all.

I would like to say that Im really excited for Merlin. I just saw that I missed the season opener on our Syfy channel (We get it late over here). That kind of sucks. There are too may things on TV!!

SCREAMING. I thought you had already watched it online or something.

This is the final season so brace yourself for some craziness and it's actually the darkest the show's ever gotten. It made me angry that they couldn't have made the show a bit more mature earlier on like they did in it's last season. Oh well.

Plus Ive been trying to get into Fresh Meat. Really trying. I just can't stick it.

Honestly, I started watching it for Joe Thomas. I <3 him and he really is why I stuck with it in the beginning but then it grew on me because I became interested in the other characters. It has just been renewed for S3 so it seems to be doing well but like with all comedies, sometimes they just don't work for you so you can't force yourself to like it if it's not to your taste. I get it, tho, the humor of this show is more awkward than just straight up funny.

I do love her though

Zawe's is the best character on the show! So hilarious and bizarre. I love her too.

[thatgirl]

Utopia (Channel 4) finally premiered. I checked it out because the premise sounds really odd/unique and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett is in it (). It was really, really strange but gripping so I will keep watching it.

It's basically about a group of people who find a lost manuscript for a graphic novel that contains some strange conspiracy theories about the government. This puts their lives in danger and they find themselves on the run. Meanwhile, the people who want to retrieve it set out to kill them before anyone can figure out the secrets of the novel. o_0

[MissAnne]

Ughhh, my heart is so sore. Ive finally finished Merlin Season 5.



I have to say that this was a great season. I really enjoyed it and will continue to watch it once a week on our SyFy channel here. That show had AMAZING writers.


Before I discovered Merlin (which was two yrs ago) I thought that these types of shows were long behind me. I was obsessed with Hercules, Xena and later, Beast Master when I was younger. I tried to get into The Legend of the Seeker a couple of years ago but I felt like the awe of this genre had been lost in the 90's.

Im feeling really nostalgic right now lol

Someone made a beautiful video in dedication to Gwen and Arthur, I keep going back to it . AND Kudos to Bradley for actually looking really in love this season. Well done.

[thatgirl]

^ I'm so happy you loved it!

The fanvid is making me nostalgic, looking back at their romance. Long live the Queen. ;__;

It was a great season, and I love how everyone got to shine in it (even the Knights, especially Gwaine and Elyan). It was really lovely and it just made it all the much harder to part with the show and accept that it's come to an end. Am I using the words love/lovely too much. Yes I am. But seriously, it was awesome.

And I agree, Gwen and Arthur's chemistry came through a lot better this season because they were finally interacting more and Gwen was given better material to work with. I always enjoyed them as a couple (next to Gwen/Lancelot) but it still pulled on my heart strings.

But the finale basically confirmed for everyone that Merlin was actually a Merlin/Arthur love story, right? It was pretty heavy stuff. Like Arthur saying "Just hold me, please"? Wow. I mean I never got in to that pairing (even though I love slash) but it was really moving whether people interpret it as platonic or not. I finally understood why Merthur has been the most popular pairing in fandom.

I was only pissed off at the way they handled Mordred and Morgana towards the end. It was too rushed. Those two really got to me, I was rooting for them as much as I was rooting for "the good guys." Tragic.

[MissAnne]

Yes, Mordred and Morgana's ends were way too rushed. I thought that both of them could have died a little more epically. Mordred's end was very specific to the legend but could have been drawn out a little more. I really enjoyed that character btw.

Morgana was our ruthless villian for years and I thought that there would have been a little more of a battle. She was so tortured, its sad, really. The Once and Future King reference has always been confusing to me. Is Arthur meant to return ?

What's up with this spin-off ?Bradley is out, so will there be an Arthur ? So many questions.

I loved how strong Gwen was at the end, no tears, she just looked numb but ready for the challenge.

Arthur's death scene was beautiful. It was terrible, yes, but BEAUTFIUL. It all seemed very platonic. I can't let my mind go to slash when it comes to Arthur and Merlin LOL. I just see a very beautiful friendship between two men. I think that I almost lost it when he asked Merlin to hold him. Who writes this stuff ?! Did they want me to cry my eyes out ? It was right to have Arthur die in Merlin's arms. I was so impressed with Colin and Bradley in that scene.

[thatgirl]

I can't let my mind go to slash when it comes to Arthur and Merlin LOL. I just see a very beautiful friendship between two men. I think that I almost lost it when he asked Merlin to hold him.

MTE. I can't ever go there with them. It doesn't really work for me because I view it as platonic as well. I can see why people are into them as a pairing though. Just not feeling it, personally.

The idea of Merlin/Mordred is hot. Mordred/Arthur is hot. Lancelot/Merlin is hot. Any of the Knights together is hot. But Merthur...nah. lol

The Once and Future King reference has always been confusing to me. Is Arthur meant to return ?

Yeah, I think so. Hence the ending with Merlin waiting for him in the future.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Ar...ssianic_return

What's up with this spin-off ?Bradley is out, so will there be an Arthur ? So many questions.

I have no idea. It seems like it's mainly rumors and speculation at this point. I've heard that there might be Merlin related tv movies, too. But who knows. The actor who plays Mordred (Alexander Vlahos) said that he'd like to see a show based on the Knights of the Round Table-- that would be interesting. I don't know if many of the original actors are interested in returning but I've heard that if any spin-off or movie projects are developed, it's more likely that Merlin will be rebooted. Perhaps because it's easier that way and it's a fresh start with new actors.

Honestly, I just want there to be another fantasy type show from the BBC. I feel like, now that Merlin has ended and Being Human is in its final series, I need something to fill the void.

[MissAnne]

Honestly, I just want there to be another fantasy type show from the BBC. I feel like, now that Merlin has ended and Being Human is in its final series, I need something to fill the void.

Yes, absolutely.

And I agree, some sort of prequel series would be interesting. Or maybe they should just celebrate the beautiful show that they have made and end it there. I know that it must be difficult to let it go.

Id watch any show that has Lancelot and Merlin getting down. I wouldn't care what it was about

[thatgirl]

My Mad Fat Diary. I've started watching it and I am loving it...




And I wasn't aware that the BBC has a zombie mini series coming out. I am so excited to see it.

In The Flesh.

[thatgirl]

Yes, absolutely.

And I agree, some sort of prequel series would be interesting. Or maybe they should just celebrate the beautiful show that they have made and end it there. I know that it must be difficult to let it go.

Id watch any show that has Lancelot and Merlin getting down. I wouldn't care what it was about

The creators of Merlin will have a new 'historical fantasy' airing on BBC for Fall 2013 (to replace Merlin).

It's called Atlantis and it will be set in a mythical city in Ancient Greece.

Article: Den of Geek :: What do we know about the BBC’s Atlantis?

Sounds pretty fun. Hope it works out. ~

[StickShift]

It may be because I'm a petrolhead as they say in the UK, but my 3 favorite British shows are Top Gear (UK version), Fifth Gear, and Wheeler Dealers.

You don't need to know anything about cars to enjoy Top Gear or Fifth Gear. Wheeler Dealers is about buying iconic classic cars cheap, repairing/restoring them, and selling them at a profit.

Top Gear has notably won awards (Including an Emmy for best factual TV program) and has more often then not, gotten itself into trouble, usually because Jeremy Clarkson has said something bigoted on the show. The 3 hosts bicker and argue like grade-school kids. It's funny to watch them. The show is on season 19 and is a 1 billion dollar franchise.
http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-...02_2418722.htm

[goldenmoth]

'In the Flesh' looks amazing. I hope it come to DVD soon so I can convert my friends to British television

[MauiGuy]

I love the Eastenders, The Desmonds, Red Dwarf, Keeping Up Appearences, Are you Being Served?, The It Crowd, and The Ali G Show

[MissAnne]

Hey Thatgirl,

is Call The Midwife any good ? Im trying to decide between Bomb Girls or that.

[Thynight]

I really enjoy Spy, which I hear ABC will be doing an American version of. I also really enjoyed Whites, but it got canceled after six episodes.

[bankside]

I can't believe I have to catch up on 10 seasons of QI that I never knew existed.

The worst thing about British TV is BBC America when I really want to watch BBC.

I don't want "the best of" or "a selection of" or "highlights from" or "here is what we think you foreigners want to see." I just want unadulterated, live, as-it-is-released, British TV.

[yhtang]

I liked watching the TV series Lewis, as in Inspector Lewis, a spinoff from Inspector Morse.

I feel Inspector Lewis's sidekick, Hataway (played by Laurence Fox) stole the show.

[redfox70]

...is Call The Midwife any good ? Im trying to decide between Bomb Girls or that.

I can vouch for Call The Midwife, but I suppose it depends on your tastes. Have you read up on it? I haven't heard of Bomb Girls before so I can't offer an opinion.

I liked watching the TV series Lewis, as in Inspector Lewis, a spinoff from Inspector Morse.

I feel Inspector Lewis's sidekick, Hataway (played by Laurence Fox) stole the show.

I loved Morse and loved Lewis too. Bad news though, they've recently stopped making Lewis And yeah, I agree about Hathaway

[thatgirl]

Hey Thatgirl,

is Call The Midwife any good ? Im trying to decide between Bomb Girls or that.

I've actually not seen either. Call the Midwife looks way better to me and I did once contemplate watching it so maybe I'm a bit biased in that regard. Bomb Girls is a Canadian show, fwiw, and it looks pretty fun so...Maybe just watch ep 1 of each and see which one you like better. If you end up liking both you'll have to watch both of them I guess. Have fun. lol

[MissAnne]

I just finished watching Call The Midwife. It was pretty good. A little slow, but I laughed, I teared up,... so I would not be opposed to seeing the second series. Redfox, I read a little about it. I like that it was based on the woman's life.

Ive seen a bit of Bomb Girls. The lesbian character interests me, but Im still not sure if Im going to watch it yet.

[Shiner2]

I really enjoy British programming. Shows like Midsomer Murders, Inspector Morse/Lewis, A Touch Of Frost, and Doc Martin are a few that I enjoy watching.

[thatgirl]

I'm currently a bit obsessed with that new ITV drama Broadchurch. It's really addictive, well written and beautifully filmed. It's basically a murder mystery set in a small, close-knit town. It's got a solid cast, too. Can't wait to see how it ends.

[redfox70]

We miss you, thatgirl

Anyway, just wanted to comment on a couple of shows, including the one thatgirl spoke about in her last post in this thread, Broadchurch, although there's probably not much I can add really to what she already said. However, the ending was perhaps a little...I don't know, disappointing I suppose is how best to describe it. Or rather the whole of the episode was disappointing, I think due largely to the fact that the murderer is revealed fairly early on in the episode so there isn't the suspense that usually occurs in these sort of dramas. Overall the series was very good though and I do recommend watching it

A more recent show that I recommend is The Fall. It's a 5-part series from the BBC and is set in Belfast and stars Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. This show has the unusual but not unheard of premise of showing the viewers who the murderer is from very early on, but that doesn't in any way detract from the suspense we are put through right until the very last episode. I hope those of you who are able to watch it enjoy it

[ArseYouLikeIt]

I can't believe I have to catch up on 10 seasons of QI that I never knew existed.

The worst thing about British TV is BBC America when I really want to watch BBC.

I don't want "the best of" or "a selection of" or "highlights from" or "here is what we think you foreigners want to see." I just want unadulterated, live, as-it-is-released, British TV.

Only residents of the UK have unlimited access to BBC programmes, assuming of course that they have paid the annual TV licence fee (£140...dunno what that would be in dollars) which funds the BBC. I`m surprised at how popular the Beeb seems to be in the States, because here in Britain, the public standing and reputation of the BBC has never been lower, and deservedly so.

[vabirly]

I'm really big into cooking so Nigella Lawson? It's truly sad about what recently just happened though...